Year in Review

Dear Friends,

This year marks a personal milestone—my 10th anniversary as Colorado State Director. It has truly been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career with The Nature Conservancy.

As we face the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, along with mounting challenges to conservation efforts, the road ahead is undeniably steep. Yet, in the face of these headwinds, I find myself more inspired than ever—by our mission, our dedicated staff, our visionary trustees and by members like you who make this work possible.

Thanks to your continued support, we are not only rising to meet these challenges, but we are also innovating, implementing and shaping a future defined by a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature.

On the pages that follow, you will see exciting conservation ideas that turned into reality across the state, from our land conservation work in the Southern High Plains and the Sagebrush Sea to our hands-on work restoring wet meadows to training the next generation of forest practitioners with partners from Front Range Community College and the Ember Alliance. We also influenced significant policy wins and worked across boundaries, borders and aisles to find solutions that benefit nature and the communities and livelihoods that depend on these special places.

Of course, none of this work happens alone. Our partnerships with Tribal Nations, local ranching communities, cities, non-profit partners and others create lasting, collaborative solutions that make a difference. As we approach our 60th anniversary in Colorado in 2026, we remain proud of our work and committed to our science-based approach guided by local voices and elevated to a scale that reaches across the globe.

Traveling across the state this year, I met with partners from the Ute Mountain Ute, Southern Ute, farmers and ranchers, legislators, donors and many Coloradans concerned about the future. I am continually reminded that there is more that unites us than separates us. Nature is truly common ground that sustains every aspect of our lives and protecting it is common sense. I am confident that with your support we will continue to achieve lasting results, where nature and people thrive together. 

Thank you for joining us on this journey, for being part of our community, and for your support and partnership that makes our work possible.